The Porch

I’ve beer to Key West a number of times in recent years and haven’t really been dazzled by the beer offerings in the majority of the bars in town. Several people have mentioned that I had to checkout The Porch.

The Porch was pretty easy to find. They are located in a big, white house on the corner of Caroline and Duval Street, right across the street from the sign advertising the “clothing optional bar” above the Cock & Bull (it is Key West after all).

There’s a good sized garden separating the building from the sidewalk that provides a welcome buffer from the crowds and makes sitting out on the veranda relaxing. They have about a dozen small tables lining the old-school porch that giving you a sense of what Key West was like 60 years ago.

The air conditioned bar area is located in the front area of the house and provides a welcome break from the early evening heat. The wood floors made me think of my grandmother’s house but the resemblance ends there. A L-shaped bar sits in the corner protecting 18 taps of craft beers as well as bottles of beer and wine. It’s surrounded by about ten stools creating a great spot to sit and converse with the other patrons. An adjoining room has a pair of high-tops along with a TV. There’s also a refrigerated case in the corner full of their selection of bombers or as they like to call them, the “Big Boys.”

There are a couple of chalkboards on the walls listing their wares and the tap selection seemed to include a wide spectrum of both styles and breweries. I believe that there were 17 different brewers represented and the beers ranged from Mile Marker Blonde to Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter. Some of the others were Palm, Chimay, Shipyard, Blue Point, Left Hand, Dogfish Head and a pair of Magic Hats. The bottle selection was pretty good too and I saw a few get poured that I’d never seen before.

The music that they had playing gave the place a lively feel and the crowd seemed to be a well balanced mix of tourists and locals. The bartender was friendly and had a great personality joking and chatting with everyone. One of the owners even came by just to have a beer or two and just hang out.

I plan on spending some time at The Porch again next time I’m on the island. They are worth checking out yourself.